Finland Member of the UN Commission on Human Rights

Finland was elected member of the UN Commission on Human Rights for the period 2005-2007 in New York on Tuesday, 4 May. The election took place in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Chair of the Council for the year 2004 is Permanent Representative of Finland, Ambassador Marjatta Rasi.

Finland has previously been member of the Commission on Human Rights during the years 1993-1995. The Commission on Human Rights is the central forum for human rights issues in the UN which meets yearly in March/April in Geneva. Finland considers the work of the Commission on Human Rights to be of vital importance. As a new member of the Commision Finland is actively going to participate in further developing human rights.

In addition, Finland was elected member of the Commission for Social Development for the period 2006-2009 and member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF for the years 2005-2006.

Additional information: Head of the Unit for Human Rights Policy in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Johanna Suurpää, tel. 1605 6551, mobile 040 724 0287